Electric lamp



(No Model.)

' A. We. MORTON.

' ELECTRIC LAMP. Y No'. 264,328. Patented Sept. 12, 1882.

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d UNITED STATES PATENT EEreE.

ALBANUS W. MORTON, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,323, dated September 12, 1882.

Application lcd December 22, 1881.

the county ot' Union,in the State of New Jerl sey, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is more particularly designed to protect electric lamps of the incandescent order, and which as hitherto constructed have always been liable to breakage from various 'causes-such, for examplegas from the effects ot' a blow, a jar, a splash of water, and too high electric tension, and the like. ln cases 0i' breakage, as aforesaid, such lamps arein most cases shivered or com minuted into exceedingly small fragments, which, falling upon carpets, rugs, &c.,l are almost incapable ot' removal from the fabric, and consequently rapidly destroy the same. Very often, also, itl the lighting apparatus breaks while suspended over a printing-press or any other delicate machinery, the injury wrought to the mechanism is commonly difiicu1t,and sometimesimpossible,torepair at material and considerable expense. So, also, accidents ofthis class very often occur from y jarring ot the ceiling from which the apparatus is suspended from the falling or moving of heavy articles on floors above.

The object ot' my invention is to provide against the occurence of such accidents so far as is practicable, and, in oase they do occur, to limit the damage to that relating tothe lamp itself. This I accomplish by certain novel means ot' reducing the transmission of jar or concussion to the lamp, and also by certain novel means for preventing the fractured glass from falling downward from the lamp when the latter is broken.

Figure l is a side view and partial vertical sectional view of an electric lighting apparatus embracing my said invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of' certain parts embraced in the construction of said apparatus.

A is the glass shell or externall portion of an electric lamp of the incandescent class, so called, and which may be ot' any ordinary or suitable construction. The said shell A is suspended from the boss or knob B in the (No model.)

usual or any appropriate manner, said boss or knob being hollow or tubular to permit the passage therethrough ot' the conducting-wires `or rods of the lamp.

C is a tubular stem, from which theapparats as a whole is suspended, but which, instead of being attached rigidly and direct to the boss or knob B, has interposed between it and the said boss or knob a spring, l). A spiral spring contour indicated in Fig. l, the smaller end of said spring being attached or fixed in any suitable lpanuer to the lower end ot' the tube C, while its larger end is passed around and attached in any suit-able manner to the boss or knob B. rlhe glass shell A of the lamp has formed upon it a llange or collar, a, and its upper end -is cylindric and provided with a screwthread, by which it may be screwed into a correspondingly-shaped socket formed centrally in the boss or knob B. E is a circular disk or plate, which may be made of metal. and formed with a central opening, c, so that the said plate may be passed over and around the neck or cylindrical portion ot' the glass shell A above the collar or iiange a, as indicated in Fig. l. The plate or disk E is provided with a circumferential downwardly-extending rim or ilange, d, at the inner side of is to be preferred, and may have the conical 6o which, at suitableintervals apart, are inwardly- 8o projecting studs c, which may be formed either by indenting the metal ot` the rim or flange d from the outside, or may be formed by suitable pieces of metal soldered to the inner surface of the said rim orilange.

F is a cylinder of transparent mica, around the upper end ot which is ailixed an annular collar, j', from the upper edge of which is extended a horizontal liange, o', and formed in this iiange at intervals apart corresponding to 9o IOO brought above the projections e, thereby attaching the cylinder F to the disk or plate E. The cylinder, as thus connected with the disk or plate E by what may be termed a kind of bayonet-joint, is readily capable of detachy ment and replacement when required. l To the bottom of the cylinder Fis secured a ling, g, formed of angle-iron or brass of requisite size, to the lower or horizontal portion, c', of which is riveted or otherwise attached a plate or disk, m, of transparent mica.

Itiveted to the cylinder F, at or near the horizontalV center thereof', and at suitable intervals apart, are radial metallic studs u, to the outer ends ot' which is soldered a wire or ring, G, which, being substantially concentric with the cylinder F, and at or near the horizontal thereof, as aforesaid, and as shown in Fig. 1, constitutes a guard by which most blows laterally directed will be liable to beintercepted before reaching the cylinder F, so that their force will be extended to and dissipated substantially throughout the whole of the latter, instead of being concentrated at any one point thereof. The lamp, including its fragile glass shell A, being suspended from the tubular support C by means of a spring, as described, concussions from the ceiling above will be immeasurably intercepted and broken up by the said spring, and theirinjurious effects upon the lamp prevented; and, furthermore, when it is subjected to impact laterally from any cause its elastic connection with the supf port U will enable it to yield without material jarorliabilityofinj ury,andwillinsureits return toits normal position without the continued swingingaetionincidenttoasimple suspension, as from a chain or pivot, so that under all ordinary conditions of use the lamp is secure against theaccidentsincidenttolamps suspendedin the ordinary way. In like inannerthe effects ofany concussion exerted through the atmosphere or otherwise directly upon the lamp or its immediate surroundings will lose their effect, inasmuch as the lamp is permitted to yield more or less by the elasticity ot' its connection with the tube orsupportO. Furthermore, any moderate blow, torce, or concussion directed toward the lamp will be itself intercepted by the cylinder F, thereby, to a certain extent, protecting the said lamp, including its fragile glass-shell A; and, even should the concussion under such circumstances be sufficient to fracture the glass, the closed lower end of the cylinder F will receive and hold the fragments of glass, as in a basket, and their dispersion and the injury which would result if the fragments of glass were suffered to fall upon carpets', machinery, victuals, or other article or material liable to be i-njured thereby is prevented; and,` further, the guard, by anticipating blows the force of which would otherwise be concentrated upon some one portion of the cylinder F, prevents the latter from being injured from any ordinary accident.

It will be observedthat the cylinder F, bcing made of mica, is transparent, and at the saine time tough, flexible, and strong, so that it will not be fractured, as would be the case it' said cylinder were made of glass. It is obvious that the great value and utility of the said cylinder in its connection with the fragile glass shell A ot' the lamp lies in the fact that it is possessed of resistant properties which do not exist in glass, and which untit glass for the construction or uses of said cylinder F.

What I claim as iny inventionjs- 1. In an electric-lighting apparatus, a lamp.

attached to the lower end of aspring, the upper end of which is attached to the lamp-support in such manner that the spring serves the double purpose of breaking concussions from above and of permitting an elastic lateral movement when the lamp receives a lateral iinpact or impulse, the whole combined, constructed, and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In an electric-lightingapparatus, thecombination of the lamp with the glass shell A thereof, and fixed supports from which the said parts are suspended, and a spiral spring, D, the lower end ot which is connected with the lamp and the upper end of which is attached to the supporting devices, whereby the glass shell and the lamp are protected against jar or concussion, whether from above or laterally exerted, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. rlhe combination, with the glass shell of an electric lamp, of a mica cylinder or basket placed around the said shell to protect the same when in use and to receive'and retain the fragments in case of its fracture, all substan- Ytially as and for the purpose herein'set forth.

4. Thev combination, with the glass shell A of an electric lamp, of the mica cylinder F, surrounding the said shell, and an annular guard, G, attached to and surrounding the said cylinder, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

ALBANUS YV. MOR'ION. llitnesses:

u HEs'roN WATsoN,

WILLIAM S. DAVIS.

IOO 

